Three blondes were sitting by the side of a river holding fishing poles with the lines in the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three blondes were sitting quietly on the grassy bank of a wide river late one summer afternoon. The sun was beginning to lower in the sky, casting orange reflections across the water while birds chirped in the trees nearby. Each blonde held a fishing pole with the lines stretched far into the river. Beside them sat a small cooler, folding chairs, and a bucket that appeared to be filled with random rusty metal objects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a distance, it looked exactly like three ordinary women enjoying a peaceful day of fishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A game warden driving slowly along the dirt road spotted them and immediately became suspicious. This river was well known for strict fishing regulations, and lately there had been several complaints about people fishing without licenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He parked his truck, adjusted his hat, and walked toward the women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The blondes noticed him coming but stayed calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warden stopped a few feet behind them and cleared his throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood afternoon, ladies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All three turned and smiled politely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfternoon, officer,\u201d one of them replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warden glanced at the fishing poles and then at the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to see your fishing licenses, please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first blonde blinked in confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFishing licenses?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, ma\u2019am,\u201d the warden said. \u201cAnyone fishing in this river is required to carry a valid state fishing license.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second blonde looked at the others nervously before turning back to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell\u2026 we don\u2019t actually have licenses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warden sighed heavily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen I\u2019m afraid I\u2019ll have to issue citations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut officer,\u201d said the third blonde quickly, \u201cwe\u2019re not fishing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warden raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re sitting beside a river with fishing poles in the water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d she replied confidently, \u201cbut these aren\u2019t really fishing poles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now the officer looked confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are they then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second blonde smiled proudly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re magnetic river-cleaning devices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warden stared at her for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry\u2026 what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re helping clean the river,\u201d the first blonde explained. \u201cThere\u2019s metal junk all over the bottom. Old cans, hooks, nails, knives, coins, bicycle parts\u2026 you\u2019d be surprised what people throw in here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The officer folded his arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you expect me to believe that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d the third blonde said innocently. \u201cLook.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All three women slowly reeled in their lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sure enough, instead of fishing hooks, large industrial magnets were tied to the ends. Hanging from them were rusty nails, bottle caps, screws, pieces of chain, and random scraps of metal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warden walked closer and inspected them carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One magnet even had an old wrench attached to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell,\u201d he admitted reluctantly, \u201cI\u2019ll be damned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe told you,\u201d one blonde said with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The officer scratched his chin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you\u2019re seriously out here just cleaning the river?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d another blonde answered. \u201cWe\u2019re doing community service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warden suddenly looked impressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know, not many people would spend their day helping the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The blondes nodded proudly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe care about nature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell,\u201d the officer said, softening his tone, \u201cthere\u2019s definitely no law against cleaning the river. In fact, I appreciate what you ladies are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, officer,\u201d they replied sweetly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warden tipped his hat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou all have a good day now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou too!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The officer walked back toward his truck, occasionally glancing over his shoulder at the strange group. Eventually he drove away and disappeared down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For about five seconds, the blondes remained completely silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then suddenly all three exploded into uncontrollable laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One nearly fell out of her chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh my God,\u201d she gasped between laughs, \u201cdid you SEE his face when he believed us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second blonde wiped tears from her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe really thought we were environmental volunteers!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third blonde grinned mischievously as she began reeling her line back in again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slowly, a huge clump of metal emerged from the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attached to the magnet were eight shiny fishing lures, two unopened tackle boxes, a pocket knife, and somebody\u2019s expensive fishing net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first blonde laughed even harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis spot is amazing!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second blonde opened one of the tackle boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJackpot! Brand new lures!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third blonde proudly held up a wallet stuck to the magnet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd look at this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The others crowded around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAny money in it?\u201d one asked excitedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The blonde opened it and smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFifty dollars!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The three blondes burst into laughter again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of them leaned back in her chair and said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho needs fishing licenses when the fishermen catch everything for us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A game warden came up behind them, tapped one on the shoulder and said, \u201cExcuse me, ladies, I\u2019d like to see your fishing licenses.\u201d
\u201cWe don\u2019t have any.\u201d replied the first blonde.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, if you\u2019re going to fish, you need fishing licenses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut officer,\u201d replied the second blonde,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cwe aren\u2019t fishing. We all have magnets at the end of our lines and we\u2019re collecting debris off the bottom of the river.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n